Turkey ranked fifth best golf destination in the world

Sentido Zeynep Golf and Spa - one of many golf destinations in Belek Photo: Goxxy

Turkey has been ranked the fifth best golf destination in the world by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.

Estate agent Spot Blue has welcomed the ranking as an indicator of Turkey's successful campaign to become a global golf destination, following the resort of Belek hosting a series of international tournaments.

Indeed, The National Golf Club in Belek successfully hosted its first European Challenge Tour tournament (the Turkish Airlines Challenge) in May this year, with the course receiving praise from leading players. In the same month, the course hosted the PGA Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, which will take place at Belek's equally impressive Carya Golf Club next year. Meanwhile, building on its hosting of the 2013 Turkish Airlines Open, attended by a selection of leading players that included Tiger Woods, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal Club will host the Open again in November 2014.

Belek now has 15 golf courses within a 15km stretch of coastline, boasts more than 50 five-star hotels and is just 30 minutes' drive from the international airport at Antayla.

Ahmet AÄŸaoÄŸlua, President of the Turkish Golf Federation, commented that after the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open in 2012, which saw Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood amongst the competing players, bookings for tee-times in the Belek area rose by between 12 and 15 per cent.

AÄŸaoÄŸlua stated recently that being under the Challenge Tour spotlight in 2014 will only strengthen Belek's reputation in the golfing circuit.

"Last year [2013], 160,000 tourists came to Turkey just to play golf," said AÄŸaoÄŸlua. "It's an industry in this area and people appreciate the courses and facilities here."

Splot Blue says that the rise of Turkey's golf tourism is benefiting homeowners in Belek, pushing up home values and rental demand both there and in nearby Side and Antalya.

"Sought after homes are situated on small complexes off the main road running along the Coast between the Centre of Belek and the neighbouring village of Kadriye," explains Julian Walker, director at Spot Blue International Property. "You can be a 20 to 30-minute walk - or short drive - from a Blue Flag beach, a championship golf course, and Bars and amenities. Offering all of these things, as well as a short transfer time, makes the area good for rentals, especially when a major golf tournament is on."